Molecular Mechanisms of Retina Development and Degeneration
A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry and Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 36
Special Issue Editor
2. Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Bio-technology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
3. Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), 3000-370 Coimbra, Portugal
4. Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image (AI-BILI), Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: retinal degeneration; molecular mechanisms; signaling pathways; genetic regulation; neuroinflammation
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Vision is the dominant sense for most vertebrates, essential for locating food, recognizing congeners, and detecting threats. At the core of this process lies the retina, a highly specialized and intricately organized tissue composed of multiple neuronal and non-neuronal cell types. Its development from multipotent progenitors requires finely tuned spatiotemporal regulation of molecular and cellular mechanisms to ensure the formation of functional circuits.
Conversely, retinal degeneration arises from the progressive dysfunction and loss of these highly differentiated cells, leading to visual impairment and, in many cases, irreversible blindness. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern both retinal development and degeneration is therefore crucial for uncovering the pathogenesis of blinding diseases and for guiding the design of novel therapeutic strategies.
This Special Issue, “Molecular Mechanisms of Retina Development and Degeneration”, welcomes original research articles and comprehensive reviews that highlight recent advances in retinal neuroscience, with particular emphasis on disease mechanisms. Contributions may explore signaling pathways, genetic and epigenetic factors, cellular interactions, and molecular determinants of retinal health and dysfunction. We encourage studies using in vitro and in vivo models, including cell-based systems, animal models, and human samples, to provide an updated and integrated view of the molecular underpinnings of retina development and degeneration.
We look forward to your valuable contributions to this Special Issue.
Dr. Hélène Léger
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- retina
- retinal development
- retinal degeneration
- molecular mechanisms
- signaling pathways
- genetic regulation
- epigenetics
- neuronal and glial interactions
- neuroinflammation
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
